Employment

Lab Retiree Group To Hold ‘First Tuesday Breakfast’ Oct. 7

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Scene from a previous LRG’s monthly breakfast social at Muy Salsas. Photo by Morrie Pongratz

LRG News:

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) retirees (and potential retirees) are invited to drop in at the Laboratory Retiree Group (LRG) monthly breakfast social, 8:30-10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7,  at Muy Salsas at 1315 Trinity Drive.

Come hang out and join the conversation with other Lab retirees.

LRG pays for everyone’s coffee and tea, while individuals pay for their breakfast and other drinks.

The LRG is a non-profit organization that seeks to maintain communications with and to serve the Read More

Disaster Unemployment Assistance Deadline Extended For Lincoln And Doña Ana County Residents

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NMDWS News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Lincoln and Doña Ana county residents affected by the June 23, 2025, storms, flooding and landslides may now apply for federal disaster unemployment assistance after the application deadline was extended to Oct. 15, 2025.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available to individuals whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of the declared disaster in Lincoln and Doña Ana counties.

Individuals who lost work or employment due to the designated disaster must file DUA applications by established deadlines.

DUA is available Read More

Malia Goddard Named ACT Staff Member Of The Month

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Malia Goddard

COUNTY News:

ACT Staff Member Of The Month: Malia Goddard

Malia Goddard has been named the Atomic City Transit (ACT) Staff Member Of The Month for August.

Goddard joined Atomic City Transit in January 2025 and drives regular service routes, including the Bandelier Shuttle.

She is known for providing excellent customer service, supporting her co-workers and supervisor with a variety of tasks, and being a dependable team player.

Los Alamos County is grateful to have her on board. Read More

Court Of Appeals Judge Kristopher Houghton Takes Office

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Court of Appeals Judge Kristopher N. Houghton speaking at his public investiture. He is wearing a robe used by the late Justice Charles W. Daniels. Courtesy/Judge Houghton

COURT News:

SANTA FE — New Mexico Court of Appeals Judge Kristopher “Kris” Houghton donned a judicial robe with a special connection to his legal career after taking the oath of office at his public investiture.

The robe had been used by the late Supreme Court Justice Charles W. Daniels, who Judge Houghton clerked for from 2008 to 2010. Randi McGinn, the justice’s widow, lent the robe to Judge Houghton for his investiture and Read More

NNSA Los Alamos Field Office Manager Ted Wyka Briefs County Council On Local Operations

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NNSA-LA Field Office Manager Ted Wyka

By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

Operations are moving steadily along at the NNSA Los Alamos Field Office, Manager Ted Wyka told County Council during a Sept. 16 work session.

In his presentation, Wyka touched on several areas including the laboratory’s budget, the electric coordination agreement between the Department of Energy (DOE) and County’s Department of Public Utilities (DPU), the Rendija Canyon land transfer and the efforts to improve driving behaviors on laboratory property.

Regarding laboratory funding, Read More

LAHS Grad Jonathon Ebanks Opens Digital Media Company

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LAHS 2003 graduate Jonathon Ebanks, the owner of Invisible Hand Entertainment, LLC. Courtesy photo

By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

It was during the pandemic in 2020 that Jonathon Ebanks got an idea for a business. With everyone homebound, he said he wanted to help companies with their online presence. As a result, Invisible Hand Entertainment, LLC was born.

Although the business was created in 2020, it stagnated for a few years due to Ebanks working at Los Alamos National Laboratory’s IT department. This year, however, he decided to start the digital media Read More

Pages Of Our History: Charles ‘Rip’ Ripley

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Charles ‘Rip’ Ripley Oct. 20, 1919 – Oct. 8, 2014

By SHARON SNYDER
Los Alamos

Charles “Rip” Ripley was born in October 1919 in Chicago, IL. When he was of age, he spent most of four years at the Los Alamos Ranch School as a student and at times on the staff.

He had attended New Trier High School in Winnetka, Ill., before coming to LARS.

From his time in New Mexico, he became a member of the Class of 1942 at Yale University, but soon found himself a captain in the US Army Medical Corps in World War II.

After the war, Rip married, and he and Betsy settled in Downey, Calif., with two daughters. Rip had learned engineering Read More

Samantha Kao Joins RETA As Community Relations Director

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Samantha Kao

RETA News:

SANTA FE – Samantha “Sammi” Kao has joined the New Mexico Renewable Energy Transmission Authority (RETA) as Community Relations Director. In her new role, Kao is responsible for leading stakeholder relations, public information, and community engagement in the renewable energy sector.

“It is a pleasure to announce that Samantha Kao has joined the RETA staff to drive our community relations activities,” RETA Executive Director Lynn E. Mostoller said. “Sammi brings knowledge, experience and passion to this newly created position. With her excellent track record Read More

New Mexico Office Of The Superintendent Of Insurance Approves 2026 Health Insurance Premium Rates For Small Group Health Insurance Market

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OSI News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Office of the Superintendent of Insurance (OSI) has approved 2026 health insurance premium rates for the small group health insurance market.

The average increase across all plans is 16.8 percent. The new rates take effect Jan. 1, 2026, when health insurance small group consumers in New Mexico will have 137 plan options available. Currently, almost 36,000 New Mexicans are enrolled in a small group plan.

Carriers offering health insurance plans and coverage in New Mexico in 2026:

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico (HealthCare Service Corporation)
  • Presbyterian
Read More

LAPD Promotes Three Officers At Friday Ceremony

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Newly promoted Los Alamos Police Officers from left, Sgt. Kirk Williamson, Cmdr. Brent Hudspeth and Sgt. Joseph Dezendorf. LAPD hosted the swearing-in ceremony for the officers Friday in the Magistrate Courtroom at the Justice Center. The Honorable Judge Catherine Taylor presided. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

Newly promoted Cmdr. Brent Hudspeth is sworn in by Judge Catherine Taylor. Photo. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

Newly promoted Sgt. Joseph Dezendorf is sworn in by the Honorable Judge Catherine Taylor. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

Newly promoted Sgt. Read More